Letter: Marijuana: Bad news for our kids’

Friday

Oct 12, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 12, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Lisa Teichner, Executive Director of Tri-Town Council, sent the following letter to the editor of the Tri-Town Transcript this week.

To the editor,

This fall the Tri-Town Council Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, a community partnership committed to reducing youth drug and alcohol use and dedicated to supporting and empowering youth and families in making healthy decisions, is focusing on providing information to Tri-Town citizens on marijuana. In view of pending legislation in Massachusetts, I would like to put forth some facts about the dangers of marijuana and its ill-effects on our kids.

It is well known that marijuana is the most widely abused illegal drug among teens, and that more teens now smoke marijuana than tobacco. In addition, our most recent Masconomet High School youth survey indicates that marijuana is perceived as having the least risk or harm of use compared to both alcohol and tobacco. This survey also reflects that Masconomet High School youth believe that their parents disapprove of their use of alcohol and tobacco more than their use of marijuana. Recent decriminalization laws have only contributed to the increased perception of marijuana as being safe and ‘normal’ among our youth. Marijuana has many adverse health and safety risks – more than people are aware. Here are the facts:

· In Massachusetts more kids are admitted to treatment for marijuana use than all illegal drugs combined.

· Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug.

· Rates of teen marijuana use in Massachusetts are 30% higher than the average for the nation.

· Marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Just like drinking and driving, drugged driving is a very serious issue that can have tragic outcomes.

· Marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogens than tobacco smoke, contributing to the risk of cancer of the lungs, mouth and tongue.

· In the past 15 years, the potency of Marijuana (THC content) has more than tripled from 3% to more than 11%.

· Approximately 9% (1 in 11) marijuana users become dependent. The earlier young people start using marijuana the more likely they are to be dependent later in life.

· A study published this August by the University of Colorado, a state with legalized medical marijuana, demonstrates that nearly three-quarters of teens in the treatment programs studied, said they have used medical marijuana bought or grown for someone else, meaning “medical” marijuana is indeed being diverted to youth.

· Teens that smoke marijuana regularly demonstrate up to an 8-point IQ drop in early adulthood, compared to teens that do not smoke.

Invested, caring adults are our best strategy in preventing youth drug use. Help prevent youth marijuana use by talking to your tweens and teens often and discourage marijuana use. Together we can make a difference.

Lisa Teichner, Executive Director of Tri-Town Council, a community agency dedicated to supporting the social, emotional wellness and safety of Tri-Town youth and families